Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The city of Glendale, Arizona was ceremonially renamed to Swift City for March 17-18 in honor of The Eras Tour. (John Medina/Getty Images)
I am not a Swiftie. I can’t name a single song by Taylor Swift besides “Shake it off.” But a recent Newsweek column about her life choices has me infuriated.
John Mac Ghlionn opined that Swift is not a good role model. Why? Because she is 34, unmarried and childless.
“While Swift’s musical talent and business acumen are certainly admirable, even laudable, we must ask if her personal life choices are ones we want our sisters and daughters to emulate. This might sound like pearl-clutching preaching, but it’s a concern rooted in sound reasoning.”
Excuse me? I know this topic is off the beaten path for me, but that’s how much it stirred me.
This latest column is yet another example of how judgmental America has become. The world has changed since the Cleavers slept in separate beds. And I for one am glad that a woman can be a good role model whether she is a wife, a mother or neither.
My 25-year-old daughter is set to be married in just a few months and I am so incredibly happy for her. She was lucky enough to meet a wonderful, respectful man with common interests and humor.
But let’s be clear. If she hadn’t, I would still be proud of a young woman working hard and finding her own way in life. I don’t care if she is married or has kids one little bit.
Swift, a pop megastar and businesswoman, isn’t required to be a wife or mother to be a good role model. Everyone wants different things in life.
Let’s instead look at a person’s character when judging who is a role model.
Swift lost access to her first six albums when her contract expired, and she signed with a new recording studio. Most artists would have just moved on, but she re-recorded the songs that she wrote and owned. Her fans rallied around those versions.
Swift’s tour has been breaking records in every city. Her show literally is an economic boon to every city she visits.
But she also has donated to numerous important initiatives over the years, from food banks and libraries to paying off student loans and aiding tornado relief efforts. Just recently she gave around $5 million in bonuses to truck drivers on her tour.
Swift has also managed to avoid major scandals that beset other celebrities, such as drunk driving, drug use and harassment.
Over the years she has spoken up publicly about her struggle with an eating disorder and body image issues, advocating for mental health awareness.
So, she is generous, empathetic, works hard and speaks openly about struggles her fans might be facing on their own.
How is that not a role model?
Instead, the columnist focused on how many men she has dated. As long as people in relationships are open and upfront and treat each other with respect, good for them.
And if she finds the love we all hope to find, good for her. She deserves it. But that won’t make her more or less of a role model.
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by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle
July 5, 2024
by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle
July 5, 2024
I am not a Swiftie. I can’t name a single song by Taylor Swift besides “Shake it off.” But a recent Newsweek column about her life choices has me infuriated.
John Mac Ghlionn opined that Swift is not a good role model. Why? Because she is 34, unmarried and childless.
“While Swift’s musical talent and business acumen are certainly admirable, even laudable, we must ask if her personal life choices are ones we want our sisters and daughters to emulate. This might sound like pearl-clutching preaching, but it’s a concern rooted in sound reasoning.”
Excuse me? I know this topic is off the beaten path for me, but that’s how much it stirred me.
This latest column is yet another example of how judgmental America has become. The world has changed since the Cleavers slept in separate beds. And I for one am glad that a woman can be a good role model whether she is a wife, a mother or neither.
My 25-year-old daughter is set to be married in just a few months and I am so incredibly happy for her. She was lucky enough to meet a wonderful, respectful man with common interests and humor.
But let’s be clear. If she hadn’t, I would still be proud of a young woman working hard and finding her own way in life. I don’t care if she is married or has kids one little bit.
Swift, a pop megastar and businesswoman, isn’t required to be a wife or mother to be a good role model. Everyone wants different things in life.
Let’s instead look at a person’s character when judging who is a role model.
Swift lost access to her first six albums when her contract expired, and she signed with a new recording studio. Most artists would have just moved on, but she re-recorded the songs that she wrote and owned. Her fans rallied around those versions.
Swift’s tour has been breaking records in every city. Her show literally is an economic boon to every city she visits.
But she also has donated to numerous important initiatives over the years, from food banks and libraries to paying off student loans and aiding tornado relief efforts. Just recently she gave around $5 million in bonuses to truck drivers on her tour.
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Swift has also managed to avoid major scandals that beset other celebrities, such as drunk driving, drug use and harassment.
Over the years she has spoken up publicly about her struggle with an eating disorder and body image issues, advocating for mental health awareness.
So, she is generous, empathetic, works hard and speaks openly about struggles her fans might be facing on their own.
How is that not a role model?
Instead, the columnist focused on how many men she has dated. As long as people in relationships are open and upfront and treat each other with respect, good for them.
And if she finds the love we all hope to find, good for her. She deserves it. But that won’t make her more or less of a role model.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: [email protected]. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.
Niki has covered the Indiana Statehouse since 1999 – including five governors. She has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and Hoosier State Press Association for stories on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, criminal justice issues and more. She also is a regular on Indiana Week in Review, a weekly public television rundown of news. She shifts her career to helm a staff of three and ensure Hoosiers know what’s really happening on the state level.
Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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© Indiana Capital Chronicle, 2024
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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.
We’re part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website.
© Indiana Capital Chronicle, 2024
